{"id":109332,"date":"2020-05-11T10:01:11","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T14:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=109332"},"modified":"2020-05-12T08:53:08","modified_gmt":"2020-05-12T12:53:08","slug":"ucf-grad-and-chef-bakes-up-initiative-to-support-medical-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-grad-and-chef-bakes-up-initiative-to-support-medical-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Grad and Chef Bakes up Initiative to Support Medical Workers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sprinkling joy is what chef Tracy Wilk \u201910<\/strong> does best.<\/p>\n

In light of the world\u2019s COVID-19 pandemic, Wilk has turned the kitchen of her small studio apartment in New York City into a full-blown bake shop. Her inspiration: The brave first responders passionately dedicated to the safety of civilians. The treat: A variety of gooey, sweet cookies that Wilk considers to be her forte.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no medical training, but I can bake a really, really good cookie for the people who do,\u201d Wilk says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis concept may have started with the coronavirus, but the sprinkling of joy made with love in the kitchen will go on forever.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After being furloughed from her job as a chef and instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, she decided to use her time to provide tasty treats for local medical employees working long hours. Then she created#BAKEITFORWARD, a social media initiative to encourage others to give thanks through food to those on the front lines of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

So far, Wilk has raised more than $3,500 on GoFundMe that will go toward a #BAKEITFORWARD cookbook, made with the intention of share her recipes to others so that they, too, can spread positivity during this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis concept may have started with the coronavirus, but the sprinkling of joy made with love in the kitchen will go on forever,\u201d Wilk says. \u201cWhen you have a bad day, or you want to bring someone else some happiness, this cookbook will serve as a template for doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite her experience as a professional chef, Wilk\u2019s degree in political science<\/a> from the UCF is what she points to as an important influence in #BAKEITFORWARD.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t think I\u2019d be using a degree in political science as a chef,\u201d Wilk says, \u201cbut it is the perfect degree to blend my passion for nonprofit work with my passion for food.\u201d<\/p>\n